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Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Searching... Author: graves, robert Matches Found: 288 Graves, Robert Ranke Poet's Biography 288 poems available by this author 1805 First Line: At viscount nelson's lavish funeral Last Line: By his unservicelike, familiar ways, sir, %he made the whole fleet love him, damn his eyes! Subject(s): Nelson, Horatio, Viscount (1758-1805) A BOY IN CHURCH Poem Text First Line: Gabble-gabble, ... Brethren, ... Gabble-gabble!' Last Line: With furious zeal like madmen praying. A CHILD'S NIGHTMARE Poem Text First Line: Through long nursery nights he stood / by my bed unwearying Last Line: "saying for ever, ""cat! ... Cat! ... Cat!" Subject(s): World War I; First World War A DEAD BOCHE Poem Text First Line: To you who'd read my songs of war / and only hear of blood and fame Last Line: Dribbling black blood from nose and beard. Subject(s): World War I; First World War A LOVER SINCE CHILDHOOD Poem Text First Line: Tangled in thought am I Last Line: Swallow your pride, let us be as we used to be. Subject(s): Love A PINCH OF SALT Poem Text First Line: When a dream is born in you Last Line: Close up your fingers tight and hold him fast. A RENASCENCE Poem Text First Line: White flabbiness goes brown and lean, dumpling arms are now brass bars Last Line: Poetry is born again. Subject(s): World War I; First World War ADVICE TO COLONEL VALENTINE First Line: To fall in love, though classically human Last Line: Even if a foolish girl, not yet full grown, %confronts you with a scarcely decent passion Subject(s): Aging; Love - Age Differences ALLIE First Line: Allie, call the birds in Last Line: How we played by the water's edge %till the april sun set AMBROSIA OF DIONYSUS AND SEMELE First Line: Little slender lad, toad-headed Last Line: Who have ambrosia eaten and yet live Subject(s): Mythology - Classical AN OLD AND TWENTY-THIRD MAN Poem Text First Line: Is that the three and twentieth, strabo mine Last Line: "shall bang old vercingetorix out of gaul." Variant Title(s): The Legion Subject(s): World War I; First World War ANCESTORS First Line: My new year's drink is mulled tonight Last Line: I dash their swill upon the floor: %let them lap grovelling,tongue to tongue ANGRY SAMSON First Line: Are they blind, the lords of gaza Last Line: A-clank to my stride Subject(s): Bible; Religion ARMISTICE DAY, 1918 First Line: What's all this hubbub and yelling %commotion and scamper of feet Last Line: We left them streched out on their pallets of mud %low down with the worm and the ant Subject(s): World War I AT BEST, POETS First Line: Woman with her forests, moons, flowers, waters AT FIRST SIGHT First Line: Love at first sight, some say, misnaming Last Line: So that the cheek blanches and then blushes AT THE GAMES First Line: Two quiet sportsmen, this an englishman AT THE SAVORY CHAPEL First Line: Up to the wedding, formal with heirloom lace Last Line: Resolute and unchangeably your own Subject(s): Marriage BABYLON Poem Text First Line: The child alone a poet is Last Line: Weeping for lost babylon. BATTLE OF THE TREES First Line: The tops of the beech tree Last Line: On the field of goddeu brig Subject(s): Environment; Trees BAZENTIN, 1916 First Line: That was a curious night two years ago Last Line: And slew the rascal at the small of my back. %that was a strange day! %yes, and a merry one Subject(s): World War I BEACH First Line: Louder than gulls the little children scream Last Line: That every ocean smells alike of tar BEAUTY IN TROUBLE First Line: Beauty in trouble flees to the good angel Last Line: But would you to the marriage of true minds %admit impediment? BIG WORDS Poem Text First Line: I've whined of coming death, but now, no more! Last Line: He cursed, prayed, sweated, wished the proud words back. Subject(s): Courage; World War I; Valor; Bravery; First World War BIRTH OF A GREAT MAN First Line: Eighth child of an eighth child, your wilful advent Last Line: But evade the sesquipedalian school inspector %with his muzzle and his bag! Subject(s): Birth BLUE-FLY First Line: Five summer days, five summer nights Last Line: To glut the carriers of her epidemics - %nor did the peach complain Subject(s): Epidemics; Flies BURRS AND BRAMBLES First Line: Discourse, bruised heart, on trivial things CALL IT A GOOD MARRIAGE First Line: Call it a good marriage Last Line: Two deaths by suicide Subject(s): Love - Marital; Marriage CAREERS Poem Text First Line: Father is quite the greatest poet Last Line: And you'll be jealous, you pig! CAROL OF PATIENCE First Line: Shepherds armed with staff and sling Subject(s): Christmas CAT-GODDESSES Poem Text First Line: A perverse habit of cat-goddesses Subject(s): Animals; Cats CAT-GODDESSES First Line: A perverse habit of cat-goddesses Last Line: As soon they shall be happy to desert Subject(s): Animals; Cats CERTAIN MERCIES First Line: Now must all satisfaction Last Line: Pampering the spirit %with obscure, proud merit? CHERRY-TIME Poem Text First Line: Cherries of the night are riper Last Line: And you'll be fairies all. Subject(s): Cherries; Fruit CHILDRENOF DARKNESS First Line: We spurred our parents to the kiss Last Line: We loathe to gaze upon the sun CHRISTMAS ROBIN First Line: The snows of february had buried christmas Last Line: He prophesied more snow, and worse than snow Subject(s): Christmas CLEARING First Line: Above this bramble-overarched long lane Last Line: Though the twigs crackling under a light foot %declare her immanence COOL WEB First Line: Children are dumb to say how hot the day is Last Line: Facing the rose, the dark sky and the drums, %we shall go mad no doubt and die that way Subject(s): Heat; Language CORNER-KNOT First Line: I was a child and overwhelmed: mozart Last Line: Then, home again, had sighed above the score %'ay, a remembrancer, but nothing more' Subject(s): Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791) CORPORAL STARE Poem Text First Line: Back from the line one night in june, / I gave a dinner at bethune Last Line: A fag-end dropped on the silent road. Subject(s): World War I; First World War COUNTING THE BEATS Poem Text First Line: You, love, and I Last Line: Wakeful they lie. Subject(s): Death; Dead, The COUNTRY AT WAR First Line: And what of home - how goes it, boys Last Line: Each cries for god to understand, %'I could not help it, it was my hand.' Subject(s): World War I DAMOCLES First Line: Death never troubled damocles Last Line: Of the world's doom %and swords of damocles Subject(s): Damocles (4th Century B.c.) DANCING FLAME First Line: Pass now in metaphor beyond birds Last Line: Of love, which is: never to turn back DEAD COW FARM Poem Text First Line: An ancient saga tells us how Last Line: And the cow's dead, the old cow's dead. Subject(s): World War I; First World War DEAD FOX HUNTER First Line: We found the little captain at the head Last Line: And the whole host of seraphim complete %must jog in scarlet to his opening meet Subject(s): World War I DEATH ROOM First Line: Look forward, truant, to your second childhood Last Line: Waits jealously till children close their eyes Subject(s): Death DEDICATION OF THREE HATS First Line: This round hat I devote to mars %tough steel with leather lined Last Line: With wounds and cramps for three long years %limped back, and sat for school Subject(s): World War I DEFEAT OF THE REBELS First Line: The enemy forces are in wild flight Subject(s): War DETHRONEMENT First Line: With pain pressing so close about your heart Last Line: Poured to persephone, in whose demesne %you shall again find peace DEVIL'S ADVICE TO STORY-TELLERS First Line: Lest men suspect your tale to be untrue Last Line: Nice contradiction between fact and fact %will make the whole read human and exact DIED OF WOUNDS First Line: And so they marked me dead, the day %that I turned twenty-one? Last Line: The twenty-fourth of july! %god smiled %beguiled %by a wish so wild, %and let me always stay a child Subject(s): World War I DOUBLE RED DAISIES, THEY'RE MY FLOWERS DOWN First Line: Downstairs a clock had chimed, two o'clock only Last Line: On the flame-axis of this terrible earth; %toppling upon their waterfall, o spirit DOWN, WANTON, DOWN! First Line: Down, wanton, down! Have you no shame Last Line: Or love swear loyalty to your crown? %be gone, have done! Down, wanton down ENGLISH WOOD First Line: This valley wood is pledged Last Line: Small pathways idly tend %towards no fearful end Subject(s): Environment; Trees EPITAPH ON AN UNFORTUNATE ARTIST First Line: He found a formula for drawing comic rabbits Last Line: So in the end he could not change the tragic habits %this formula for drawing comic rabbits made ESCAPE Poem Text First Line: But I was dead, an hour or more Last Line: O life! O sun! Subject(s): Death; Escapes; World War I; Dead, The; Fugitives; First World War EVERYWHERE IS HERE, SELS. First Line: By this exchange of eyes, this encirclement Last Line: In a double star, the god above the green Subject(s): Love - Marital EXILE First Line: Into exile with only a few shirts FACE IN THE MIRROR First Line: Gray haunted eyes, absent-mindedly glaring Last Line: He still stands ready, with a boy's presumption, %to court the queen in her high silk pavilion Subject(s): Aging FALLEN TOWER OF SILOAM First Line: Should the building totter, run for an archway! Subject(s): War FALSE REPORT First Line: Are they blind, the lords of gaza Last Line: Clanking to my stride FAMILIAR LETTERS TO SIEGFRIED SASSOON Poem Text First Line: I never dreamed we'd meet that day / in our old haunts down fricourt way Last Line: And god! What poetry we'll write! Subject(s): Sassoon, Siegfried (1886-1967); World War I; First World War FAUN Poem Text First Line: Here down this very way Last Line: "faun, what is he?" FINDING OF LOVE First Line: Pale at first, and cold Last Line: With joy in steadfastness FINLAND Poem Text First Line: Feet and faces tingle Last Line: And stamps to mark the tune. Subject(s): Finland FLYING CROOKED Poem Text First Line: The butterly, the cabbage-white Subject(s): Butterflies; Insects; Bugs FLYING CROOKED First Line: The butterly, the cabbage-white Last Line: Even the arobatic swift %has not his flying-crooked gift Subject(s): Butterflies; Insects FOR THE RAIN IT RAINETH EVERY DAY First Line: Arabs complain - or so I have been told Last Line: How could that comfort you? Subject(s): Rain FOREBODING First Line: Looking by chance in at the open window FOUR CHILDREN First Line: As I lay quietly in the grass FOX'S DINGLE Poem Text First Line: Take now a country mood Last Line: In snow-cool water. Variant Title(s): A Country Mood Subject(s): Country Life FREE VERSE Poem Text First Line: I now delight / in spite Last Line: Academic extravaganza! Subject(s): Poetry & Poets FROG AND THE GOLDEN BALL First Line: She let her golden ball fall down the well Last Line: Is magic of love less powerful at your court %than at this green well-head Subject(s): Fairy Tales FROM OUR GHOSTLY ENEMY First Line: The fire was already white ash FROM THE EMBASSY First Line: I, an ambassador of otherwhere Last Line: And she enquiries for literature %come in by every post, and the side door FROSTY NIGHT First Line: Alice, dear, what ails you Last Line: Who was it said, 'I will love?' %'mother, let me go' FULL MOON First Line: As I walked out that sultry night GALATEA AND PYGMALION First Line: Galatea, whom his furious chisel Last Line: Admitted rankly to a comprehension %of themes that crowned her own, not his repute Subject(s): Lust GARDENER First Line: Loveliest flowers, though crooked in their border Last Line: And bring the most to pass GENERAL ELLIOT First Line: He fell in victory's fierce pursuit GLUTTON First Line: Beyond the atlas roams a glutton Last Line: Loathing each other's carrion company Subject(s): Gluttony; Hate; Sex GOLIATH AND DAVID Poem Text First Line: Yet once an earlier david took Last Line: Goliath straddles over him. Subject(s): World War I; First World War GREAT GRANDMOTHER First Line: That aged woman with the bass voice GROTESQUE: 1 First Line: My chinese uncle, gouty, deaf, half-blinded Last Line: By giving long and unexceptional exact directions %to a little coolie girl, who'd lost her way GROTESQUE: 2 First Line: The lion-faced boy at the fair Last Line: Like gods of dissimilar races GROTESQUE: 3 First Line: Dr. Newman with crooked pince-nez Last Line: Then put it back again with a slight frown GROTESQUE: 4 First Line: A royal duke, with no campaigning medals Last Line: While royal toasts went round GROTESQUE: 5 First Line: Sir john addressed the snake god in his temple Last Line: Hissed like a snake, and swallowed him at one mouthful GROTESQUE: 6 First Line: All horses on the racecourse of tralee Last Line: Warned by a speaking mare since turned silentiary HALLS OF BEDLAM First Line: Forewarned of madness Last Line: As if already mad Subject(s): Depression, Mental HATE NOT, FEAR NOT First Line: Kill if you must, but never hate: %man is but grass and hate is blight Last Line: Through blazing fires of battle hurled, %hate not, strike, fear not, stare death out! Subject(s): World War I HAUNTED First Line: Gulp down your wine, old friends of mine Last Line: Dead, long dead, I'm ashamed to greet %dead men down the morning street Subject(s): World War I HEDGES FREAKED WITH SNOW First Line: No argument, no anger, no remorse Last Line: Which neither can surprise %in any other pair of eyes HENRY AND MARY First Line: Henry was a young king Subject(s): Friendship HENRY AND MARY First Line: Henry was a young king Last Line: As down the garden walks we go Subject(s): Friendship HERE THEY LIE First Line: Here they lie who once learned here Last Line: Dead, but by free will they died: %they were true men, they had pride Subject(s): World War I HIDE AND SEEK First Line: The trees are tall, but the moon small Last Line: But monsters to run shrieking from, %mad monsters of no kind? HISTORY OF THE WORD First Line: The word that in the beginning was the word Last Line: But two or three, that hear the word uttered. I HATE THE MOON Poem Text First Line: I hate the moon, though it makes most people glad Last Line: And I know one day it'll do me some dreadful thing. Subject(s): Moon; World War I; First World War I WONDER WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE DROWNED Poem Text First Line: Look at my knees Last Line: I wonder what it feels like to be drowned? Subject(s): Drowning I'D LOVE TO BE A FAIRY'S CHILD Poem Text First Line: Children born of fairy stock Last Line: I'd love to be a fairy's child. IN BROKEN IMAGES First Line: He is quick, thinking in clear images Last Line: He in a new confusion of his understanding; %I in a new understanding of my confusion IN HER ONLY WAY First Line: When her need for you dies Last Line: She both loved you and hurt you %in her only way IN PERSPECTIVE First Line: What, keep love in perspective? -- that old lie Last Line: Even the blind will sense that something's wrong IN PROCESSION First Line: Often, half-way to sleep Last Line: Where between sleep and sleep I dwell IN THE WILDERNESS Poem Text First Line: Christ of his gentleness Last Line: Tears like a lover wept. Subject(s): Bible; Jesus Christ; Religion; Theology IN TIME First Line: In time all undertakings are made good INTERRUPTION First Line: If ever against this easy blue and silver Last Line: Unpeopled and unfeathered blue and silver, %before, behind, above IT WAS ALL VERY TIDY First Line: When I reached his place Last Line: He was unexceptionable: %it was all very tidy IT'S A QUEER TIME Poem Text First Line: It's hard to know if you're alive or dead Last Line: It's a queer time. Subject(s): World War I; First World War JEALOUS MAN First Line: To be homeless is a pride Last Line: His war not hers Subject(s): Jealousy JOHN SKELTON Poem Text First Line: What could be dafter Last Line: Old john, you do me good! Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Skelton, John (1460-1529) JONAH Poem Text First Line: A purple whale Last Line: With disappointed tail. Subject(s): Jonah (bible) JUDGEMENT OF PARIS First Line: What if prince paris, after taking thought JUS PRIMAE NOCTIS First Line: Love is a game for only two to play at Last Line: She could not banish him from her soft bed Subject(s): Love - Marital; Marriage LAMENT FOR PASIPHAE First Line: Dying sun, shine warm a little longer! LAST DAY OF LEAVE First Line: We five looked out over the moor Last Line: We were akk there, all five of us in love, %not one yet killed, widowed or broken-hearted Subject(s): War LAST POEM First Line: A last poe,and a very last, and yet another Last Line: And for me only; therefore, love, have done? LEGS First Line: There was this road Last Line: They had run in twenty puddles %before I regained them LETTER FROM WALES First Line: This is a question of identity %which I can't answer. Abel, I'll presume Last Line: But a stage before that, 'how am I to put %the question that I'm asking you to answer? Subject(s): World War I LETTER TO S.S. FROM BRYN-Y-PIN First Line: Poor fusilier aggrieved with fate %that lets you lag in france so late Last Line: Where lurk the bogeys of old fear %to think of you, to feel you near %by our old bond, poor fusilier Subject(s): World War I LEVELLER First Line: Near martinpuisch that night of hell Last Line: His comrades of 'a' company %deeply regret his death :we shall all deeply miss so tru a pal' Subject(s): World War I LIMBO Poem Text First Line: After a week spent under raining skies, / in horror, mud and sleeplessness a wee Last Line: Draw the plough leisurely in quiet courses. Subject(s): World War I; First World War LOLLOCKS First Line: By sloth on sorrow fathered Last Line: And to pay every debt %so soon asw it's due LORD-CHAMBERLAIN TELLS OF A FAMOUS MEETING First Line: Unknown to each other, in a hostile camp LOST ACRES Poem Text First Line: These acres, always again lost Subject(s): Environment; Fields; Environmental Protection; Ecology; Conservation; Pastures; Meadows; Leas LOST ACRES First Line: These acres, always again lost Last Line: But of the substance of mere words: %to walk there would be loss of sense Subject(s): Environment; Fields LOST JEWEL First Line: Who on your breast pillows his head now Last Line: For lust he will burn: %'turn to me, sweetheart! Who do you not turn?' Subject(s): Love; Lust LOST LOVE Poem Text First Line: His eyes are quickened so with grief Last Line: Without relief seeking lost love. Subject(s): Grief; Love; Mourning; Sorrow; Sadness; Bereavement LOST WORLD First Line: Dear love, why should you weep Last Line: With past felicities %that weep for this LOVE AND BLACK MAGIC Poem Text First Line: To the woods, to the woods is the wizard gone Last Line: "hey and hither, my lad." Subject(s): Magic LOVE STORY First Line: The full moon easterly rising, furious Last Line: Paid homage to them of unevent Subject(s): Love LOVE WITHOUT HOPE Poem Text First Line: Love without hope, as when the young bird-catcher Subject(s): Love; Love - Unrequited LOVE WITHOUT HOPE First Line: Love without hope, as when the young bird-catcher Last Line: Singing about her head, as she rode by Subject(s): Love; Love - Unrequited LOVERS IN WINTER First Line: The posture of the tree Last Line: And still with our branches green %ride our ill weather out LOVING TRUE, FLYING BLIND First Line: How often have I said before Last Line: With who alone endures your trust MARIGOLDS Poem Text First Line: With a fork drive nature out Last Line: Love must ever yet return. Subject(s): Flowers; Marigolds MERMAID, DRAGON, FIEND First Line: In my childhood rumours ran %of a world beyond the door Last Line: The dragon flaunts an unpierced hide, %the true fiend governs in god's name MID-WINTER WAKING First Line: Stirring suddenly from long hibernation Last Line: But found no winter anywhere to see MIRROR First Line: Mirror mirror tell me Last Line: Shouting through the town MORNING PHOENIX First Line: In my body lives a flame MOTHER, 1972 First Line: More than once taking both roads one night Last Line: To keep me safe a generation after your death MR. PHILOSOPHER Poem Text First Line: Old mr. Philosopher Last Line: Says ben to claire. MY NAME AND I First Line: The impartial law enrolled a name Last Line: In words of men I cannot see, %than ever I for him Subject(s): Graves, Robert Ranke (1895-1985) NAKED AND THE NUDE First Line: For me, the naked and the nude Last Line: By gorgons with long whips pursued, %how naked go the sometime nude! Subject(s): Language; Nudity NARROW SEA First Line: With you for mast and sail and flag Subject(s): Sea NATURE'S LINEAMENTS First Line: When mountain rocks and leafy trees Last Line: Whose birds, raffish, %whose fish, fish Subject(s): Nature NEVER SUCH LOVE First Line: Twined together and, as is customary NIGHT MARCH First Line: Evening: beneath tall poplar trees %we soldiers eat and smoke and sprawl Last Line: And the dark thought in every mind %to-night they'll march us on again Subject(s): World War I NOBODY First Line: Nobody, ancient mischief, nobody Last Line: The curse of his envy, of his grief and fright, %of sudden rape and murder screamed in the night NOT AT HOME First Line: Her house loomed at the end of a berkshire lane Last Line: Behind a curtain slit, and still in love NOT DEAD Poem Text First Line: Walking through trees to cool my heat and pain Last Line: Breaks his slow smile. Subject(s): Thomas, David; World War I; First World War O LOVE IN ME First Line: O love, be fed with apples while you may Last Line: Walk between dark and dark - a shining space %with the grave's narrowness, though not its peace Variant Title(s): Sick Lov Subject(s): Love OCCASION First Line: The trenches are filled in, the houseless dead Last Line: Impetuous gust of wind blew in with a shout, %fluttering your poems. And the lamp went out Subject(s): World War I OGRES AND PYGMIES First Line: Those famous men of old, the ogres Subject(s): Pygmies OGRES AND PYGMIES First Line: Those famous men of old, the ogres Last Line: Reading between such covers he will likely %prove his own disproportion and not laugh Subject(s): Pygmies OLD WORLD DIALOGUE First Line: Is this,' she asked, 'what the lower orders call - ?' Last Line: Take that!' she shouted, blind with rage OLEASTER First Line: Each night for seven nights beyond the gulf Subject(s): Travel ON DWELLING Poem Text First Line: Courtesies of good morning and good evening Subject(s): Country Life ON DWELLING First Line: Courtesies of good morning and good evening Last Line: Like trees they murmur or like blackbirds sing %courtesies of good-morning and good-evening Subject(s): Country Life ON FINDING MYSELF A SOLDIER Poem Text First Line: My bud was backward to unclose Last Line: A heart more red than blood. Subject(s): World War I; First World War ON PORTENTS First Line: If strange things happen where she is OUTLAWS First Line: Owls: they whinney down the night Last Line: And ghosts of ghosts and last year's snow %and dead toadstools OVER THE BRAZIER First Line: What life to lead an where to go %after the war, after the war? Last Line: Mad war has now wrecked both, and what %better hopes has my little cottage got? Subject(s): World War I P'ENG THAT WAS A K'UN First Line: In northern seas there roams a fish called a k'un Last Line: Though, indeed, neither started as a fish Subject(s): Birds; Fishing And Fishermen; Monsters PARENT TO CHILD First Line: When you grow up, are no more children Last Line: Would you have had me cast fear out %so that you should not be? PASSING OF THE FARMER First Line: What caused this breakdown, do I think?' PATCHWORK BONNET First Line: Across the room my silent love I throw PATCHWORK QUILT First Line: Here is this patchwork quilt I've made %of patterned silks and old brocade Last Line: That never decked white sheets before, %blame my dazed head,blame bloody war Subject(s): Quilts; World War I PEACE First Line: When that glad day shall break to match Last Line: Better we all had died at first, %better that killed before our prime %we rotted deep in earthy slim Subject(s): World War I PENNY FIDDLE First Line: Yesterday I bought a penny fiddle Last Line: I shall laugh in the falling snow-flakes, %for what should a fiddler care. PERSIAN VERSION First Line: Truth-loving persians do not dwell upon Last Line: Despite a strong defence and adverse weather %all arms combined magnificently together Subject(s): Marathon, Greece; Persian Wars PLEA TO BOYS AND GIRLS First Line: You learned lear's 'nonsense rhynes' by heart, not rote Last Line: All that I wrote in love, for love of art Subject(s): Lear, Edward (1812-1888); Poetry And Poets; Pope, Alexander (1688-1744) POETIC INJUSTICE First Line: A scottish fighting man whose wife %turned false and tempted his best friend Last Line: While that false pain met a clean end %without remorse, how fares the scot? Subject(s): World War I POETRY OF WORLD WAR I' BY ROBERT GRAVES First Line: The war-poetry boom in world war I began with the death Last Line: I'd timed my death in action to the minute...'which I quote in the first edition of my goodbye to %a Subject(s): World War I POETS First Line: Any honest housewife would sort them out Subject(s): Poetry And Poets PORTRAIT First Line: She speaks always in her own voice Last Line: As I those other women? PRESENCE First Line: Why say death? For death's neither harsh nor kind PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED 1915 - 1918 First Line: Through the periscope %trench stinks of shallow buried dead Last Line: The weary circle's broken %and a bullet tears through the tired brain Subject(s): World War I PUMPKIN First Line: You may not believe it, for hardly could I Subject(s): Pumpkins; Supernatural PURE DEATH Poem Text First Line: We looked, we loved, and therewith instantly Subject(s): Death; Dead, The PURE DEATH First Line: We looked, we loved, and therewith instantly Last Line: Unwraps pure death, which such bewilderment %as greeted our love's first accomplishment Subject(s): Death PYGMALION TO GALATEA Poem Text First Line: Pygmalion spoke and sang to galatea Last Line: "give me an equal kiss, as I kiss you." Subject(s): Courtship; Galatea; Love; Pygmalion; Women QUAYSIDE First Line: And glad to find, on again looking at it READ ME, PLEASE! First Line: If, as well may happen Last Line: And the name which you stumble on %is, alas, your own RECALLING WAR Poem Text First Line: Entrance and exit wounds are silvered clean Subject(s): World War I; First World War RECALLING WAR First Line: Entrance and exit wounds are silvered clean Last Line: When learnedly the future we devote %to yet more boastful visions of despair Subject(s): World War I REPROACH First Line: Your grieving moonlight face looks down RETROSPECT: THE JESTS OF THE CLOCK First Line: He had met hours of the clock he never guessed before Last Line: Ready once more to sweat with fear and brace for the shock, %to greet beneath a falling flare the je Subject(s): World War I RETURN First Line: Death, kindly eager to pretend RHYME OF FRIENDS First Line: Listen now this time %shortly to my rhyme %that herewith starts Last Line: Of paper to throw %in their mimic show %'la guerre aux tranchees %that was a pretty play Subject(s): World War I RICHARD ROE AND JOHN DOE First Line: Richard roe wished himself solomon Subject(s): Wishes ROCKY ACRES First Line: This is a wild land, country of my choice Subject(s): Wilderness SAIL AND OAR First Line: Womsn sails, man must row Subject(s): Sea SAINT First Line: This blatant beast was finally overcome Last Line: Would fetch him fever-wort from the pool's brim - %and crept into his grave when he was dead SAVAGE STORY OF CARDONETTE First Line: To cardonette, to cardonette Last Line: He cut off their ears for souvenirs %at cardonette in the morning Subject(s): World War I SEA SIDE First Line: Into a gentle wildness and confusion Last Line: Re-registration of the duple name SECRECY First Line: Lovers are happy Last Line: Are of our own mind SERGEANT-MAJOR MONEY First Line: It wasn't our battalion, but we lay alongside it Last Line: Or, least of all, blame money, an old stiff surviving %in a new (bloddy) army he couldn't understand Subject(s): Soldiers; World War I SHE IS NO LIAR, YET SHE WILL WASH AWAY Last Line: Such things no longer are; this is today.' SIROCCO AT DEYA (FOR WILL PRICE) First Line: How most unnatural-seeming, yet how proper Last Line: Mere local wind: no messenger of mine SIX BADGERS First Line: As I was a-hoeing, a-hoeing my lands Last Line: And all to inform me so common a thing! Subject(s): Supernatural SLICE OF WEDDING CAKE First Line: Why have such scores of lovely, gifted girls Last Line: Do I? %it might be so SMOKE-RINGS Poem Text First Line: Most learned and venerable sir Last Line: Blows us ring-wise from his mouth. SNAPPED THREAD First Line: Desire, first, by a natural miracle Last Line: The thread of miracle snapped SONG: LIFT-BOY First Line: Let me tell you the story of how I began Last Line: So I cut the cords of the lift and down we went, %with nothing in our pockets SORLEY'S WEATHER Poem Text First Line: When outside the icy rain / comes leaping helter-skelter Last Line: And the ghost of sorley. Subject(s): World War I; First World War SOSPAN FACH (THE LITTLE SAUCEPAN) First Line: Four collier lads from ebbw vale %took shelter from a shower of hail Last Line: With what relief I watch them part %another note would break my heart! Subject(s): World War I SPOILS First Line: When all is over and you march for home Last Line: For fear they burn a hole through two-foot steel Variant Title(s): The Spoils Of Lov Subject(s): Love - Loss Of; War STAR-TALK Poem Text First Line: Are you awake, gemelli Last Line: "and the pump has frozen to-night." Subject(s): Stars STARRED COVERLET First Line: A difficult achievement for true lovers Last Line: Crown love with wreaths of myrtle STRAW First Line: Peace, the wild valley streaked with torrents Last Line: Have I undone her by my vehemence? STRONG BEER Poem Text First Line: What do you think Last Line: "the grave as little as my beer." Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Beer; Drinks & Drinking; Drunkards; Alcohol Abuse; Ale; Wine SUICIDE IN THE COPSE First Line: The suicide, far from content Last Line: A year-old sheet of sporting news, %a crumbled schoolboy essay SULLEN MOODS First Line: Love, do not count your labour lost SURVIVOR First Line: To die with a forlorn hope, but soon to be raised Last Line: Whispering in the dark: 'for ever and ever?' SURVIVOR COMES HOME First Line: Despair and doubt in the blood: %autumn, a smell rotten-sweet Last Line: Safe home' safe? Twig and bough %drip, drip, drip with death Subject(s): World War I SYMPTOMS OF LOVE First Line: Love is a universal migraine Last Line: Could you endure such pain %at any hand but hers? THE ADVENTURE Poem Text First Line: To-day I killed a tiger near my shack Last Line: With clotted blood. Subject(s): Animals; Tigers; World War I; First World War THE ASSAULT HEROIC Poem Text First Line: Down in the mud I lay Last Line: "attack! Stand to! Stand to!" Subject(s): World War I; First World War THE BARDS Poem Text First Line: The bards falter in shame, their running verse Last Line: To stir his black pots and to bed on straw. Subject(s): Bards; Poetry & Poets THE BLUE-FLY Poem Text First Line: Five summer days, five summer nights Subject(s): Epidemics; Flies THE BOUGH OF NONSENSE Poem Text First Line: Back from the somme two fusiliers Last Line: A row of bright pink birds, flapping their wings. Subject(s): World War I; First World War THE BOY OUT OF CHURCH Poem Text First Line: As jesus and his followers Last Line: Were never made for man. Subject(s): Sabbath; Sunday THE CATERPILLAR Poem Text First Line: Under this loop of honeysuckle Last Line: And eat, eat, eat -- as one ought to eat. Subject(s): Caterpillars; Insects; Bugs THE CLIMATE OF THOUGHT Poem Text First Line: The climate of thought has seldom been described Last Line: The moon, grand, not fanciful with clouds. THE COOL WEB Poem Text First Line: Children are dumb to say how hot the day is Subject(s): Heat; Language; Words; Vocabulary THE COTTAGE Poem Text First Line: Here in turn succeed and rule Last Line: No! For death is waiting by. Subject(s): Death; Dead, The THE CRUEL MOON Poem Text First Line: The cruel moon hangs out of reach Last Line: Moons hang much too far away. Subject(s): Moon THE FINDING OF LOVE Poem Text First Line: Before this generous time Last Line: With love in steadfastness. THE FINDING OF LOVE Poem Text First Line: Before this generous time Last Line: With love in steadfastness. THE FIRST FUNERAL Poem Text First Line: The whole field was so smelly; / we smelt the poor dog first Last Line: And said: 'poor dog, amen!' Subject(s): Animals; Corpses; Dogs; World War I; Cadavers; First World War THE LADY VISITOR IN THE PAUPER WARD Poem Text First Line: Why do you break upon this old, cool peace Last Line: Leave us alone. Subject(s): Poverty THE LAST POST Poem Text First Line: The bugler sent a call of high romance Last Line: "jolly young fusiliers too good to die." Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War THE MORNING BEFORE THE BATTLE Poem Text First Line: To-day, the fight: my end is very soon Last Line: That dead men blossomed in the garden-close. Subject(s): World War I; First World War THE NEXT WAR Poem Text First Line: You young friskies who to-day / jump and fight in father's hay Last Line: Playing at royal welch fusiliers. Subject(s): World War I; First World War THE PERSIAN VERSION Poem Text First Line: Truth-loving persians do not dwell upon Subject(s): Marathon, Greece; Persian Wars THE PIER-GLASS Poem Text First Line: Lost manor where I walk continually Last Line: True life, natural breath; not this phantasma. Subject(s): Mirrors THE POET IN THE NURSERY Poem Text First Line: The youngest poet down the shelves was fumbling Last Line: Wonderful words no one could understand. Subject(s): Poetry & Poets THE SHADOW OF DEATH Poem Text First Line: Here's an end to my art! / I must die and I know it Last Line: I may father no longer! Subject(s): World War I; First World War THE SHIVERING BEGGAR Poem Text First Line: Near clapham village, where fields began Last Line: "tis the palsy makes me shiver so bad." THE SPOILSPORT Poem Text First Line: My familiar ghost again Last Line: Listens, watches, takes no rest. THE TRENCHES Poem Text First Line: Scratches in the dirt? / no, that sounds much too nice Last Line: Squash! And he needs no twice. Subject(s): World War I; First World War THE WHITE GODDESS Poem Text First Line: All saints revile her, and all sober men Subject(s): Goddesses & Gods; Mythology THESEUS AND ARIADNE First Line: High on his figured couch beyond the waves Last Line: Playing the queen to nobler company Subject(s): Ariadne; Mythology - Classical; Theseus THIEVES First Line: Lovers in the act dispense Last Line: In a single heart that grieves %for lost honour among thieves Subject(s): Love - Complaints THROUGH NIGHTMARE First Line: Never be disenchanted of %that place you sometimes dream yourself into Last Line: Through nightmare to a lost and moated land, %who are timorous by nature TIME First Line: The vague sea thuds against the marble cliffs Last Line: Humouring age with filial flowers, %childhood with pebbles? Subject(s): Time TO AN UNGENTLE CRITIC Poem Text First Line: The great sun sinks behind the town Last Line: There are old-fashioned folk still like it. Subject(s): Critics & Criticism TO BE IN LOVE First Line: To spring impetuously in air and remain Last Line: And peacocks cry it, in default of speech TO BRING THE DEAD TO LIFE TO CALLIOPE First Line: Permit me here a simple brief aside Last Line: Yet must I, when far worse is eagerly bought, %cry stinking fish? Subject(s): Calliope (goddess) TO EVOKE PROSPERITY Last Line: Along the promenade? TO JUAN AT THE WINTER SOLSTICE Poem Text First Line: There is one story and one story only Subject(s): Goddesses & Gods; Men; Mothers; Mythology; Sons; Sun TO JUAN AT THE WINTER SOLSTICE First Line: There is one story and one story only Last Line: But nothing promised that is not performed Subject(s): Goddesses And Gods; Men; Mothers; Mythology; Sons; Sun TO LUCASTA ON GOING TO THE WARS FOR THE FOURTH TIME Poem Text First Line: It doesn't matter what's the cause Last Line: And his pride keeps him here. Subject(s): World War I; First World War TO ROBERT NICHOLS Poem Text First Line: Here by a snowbound river Last Line: And singing birds are mute. Subject(s): World War I; First World War TO SLEEP First Line: The mind's eye sees as the heart mirrors Last Line: And all self-bruising heads loll into sleep TO WALK ON HILLS IS TO EMPLOY LEGS Subject(s): Mountains TO WHOM ELSE? TOM TAYLOR First Line: On pay-day nights, neck-full with beer Last Line: While tome, five fingers to his nose, %skips off....And the last bugle blows Subject(s): World War I TRENCH LIFE First Line: Fear never dies, much as we laugh at fear Last Line: Blossoms from mud, and under the rain's whips, %flagellant-like we writhe with laughing lips Subject(s): World War I TROLL'S NOSEGAY First Line: A simple nosegay! Was that much to ask Last Line: Even yet, perhaps, a trifle piqued - who knows? TWA CORBIES First Line: As I was walking all alone Last Line: The wind sall blaw for evermair TWIN SOULS First Line: The hermit on his pillar top TWINS First Line: Siamese twins: one, maddened by Last Line: Resolved at length to misbehave %and drink them both into the grave Subject(s): Alcoholics And Alcoholism; Twins TWO FUSILIERS Poem Text First Line: And have we done with war at last? / well, we've been lucky devils both Last Line: In dead men breath. Subject(s): World War I; First World War ULYSSES Poem Text First Line: To the much-tossed ulysses, never done Subject(s): Mythology - Classical; Ulysses; Odysseus ULYSSES First Line: To the much-tossed ulysses, never done Subject(s): Mythology - Classical; Ulysses VAIN AND CARELESS First Line: Lady, lovely lady Last Line: Nor vain with careless heart VANITY First Line: Be assured, the dragon is not dead Last Line: The gardens of the mind fall waste, %that fountains of the heart run dry WARNING TO CHILDREN Poem Text First Line: Children, if you dare to think Subject(s): Children; Childhood WARNING TO CHILDREN First Line: Children, if you dare to think Last Line: Precious world in which he says %he lives - he then unties the string Subject(s): Children WEATHER OF OLUMPUS First Line: Zdeus was once overheard to shout at hera Last Line: By noting that the snake-tailed chthonian winds %were answerable to fate alone, not zeus WELCOME, TO THE CAVES OF ARTA First Line: Such subtile filigranity and nobless of construccion Last Line: It is some poor touristers, in the depth of obscure cristal,%wich deceased of their emocion on a pas Subject(s): Caves; Mallorca; Tourists WELSH INCIDENT Poem Text First Line: But that was nothing to what things came out Subject(s): Supernatural; Wales; Welshmen; Welshwomen WELSH INCIDENT First Line: But that was nothing to what things came out Last Line: I was coming to that Subject(s): Supernatural; Wales WHEN I'M KILLED Poem Text First Line: When I'm killed, don't think of me Last Line: Your playfellow from the grave. Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War WHITE GODDESS First Line: All saints revile her, and all sober men Last Line: Heedless of where the next bright bolt may fall Subject(s): Goddesses And Gods; Mythology WHOLE LOVE First Line: Every choice is always the wrong choice Last Line: Neither was born by hazard: each foreknew %the extreme possession we are grown into Subject(s): Love - Marital WIGS AND BEARDS First Line: In the bad old days a bewigged squire Last Line: Their ancestors called themselves gentlemen %as they, in the same sense, call themselves artists WINDOW SILL First Line: Presage and caveat not only seem Last Line: A white and cankered rose Subject(s): Love WM. BRAIZER First Line: At the end of tarriers' lane, which was the street Last Line: It's an old story - f's for s's - %but good enough for them,the suckers WOMAN AND TREE First Line: To love one woman, or to sit Last Line: Or a sole woman's fatefulness WORMS OF HISTORY First Line: On the eighth day god died: his bearded mouth Last Line: The ages of a putrefying corpse WRETCH First Line: Like a lizard in the sun, though not scuttling Variant Title(s): The Laureat |
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